Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

A visit with John Rogers

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I’ve watched the Massachusetts House of Representatives from a distance for a long time, but I don’t claim to understand it. It always strikes me as one star politician surrounded by 159 extras. That must be why the House’s constant obsession is “who’ll be the next speaker?” – while the political/media class watches for clues to the subterranean maneuvers like Cold War era Kremlinologists.

I wrote an editorial last week in the MetroWest Daily News complaining that, while the House appears intensely focused on whether John Rogers or Robert DeLeo will succeed Speaker Sal DiMasi – who insists he’s going nowhere – the people of Massachusetts are entirely left out of the process.

In Norwood, Rogers read the editorial in our Dedham Daily Transcript. In Waltham, Rep. Tom Stanley, a Rogers supporter, read it in our News Tribune. They agreed, or at least saw an opportunity. Stanley called and offered to bring Rogers in for a visit.

After Sal DiMasi’s asserted his innocence Monday and reasserted his intent to stick around as speaker for a long time to come, I half expected Rogers might cancel the meeting. But he showed up and made it clear he doesn’t care what Sal thinks about it.Look for a story in Wednesday’s MetroWest Daily News.

I’ve got a full report on my blog: Holmes & Co.

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Comments

  1. The $200,000.00 his campaign committee paid to his former law partner and current friend for political consulting?

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    I’ve watched the Massachusetts House of Representatives from a distance for a long time, but I don’t claim to understand it. It always strikes me as one star politician surrounded by 159 extras.

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    p>You do understand Rick.

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    p>There is never ever enough a political consultant for a person in a speaker’s fight could do to “earn” $200,000.00.  He could have the Pinkerton Detective agency do a comprehensive investigation on each member and take each member to the Capital Grill now and then and he could not spend the $200,000.00.  This hand-off is more dangerous then Sal’s alleged shenanigans. Sal has plausible denial for his problems. He is in no danger of being indicted. Rogers has a paper trail which at some point he has to explain what his campaign got for $200,000.00

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    p>Did Rogers friend see to it that some of that $200,000.00 went back to Rogers?

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    p>Rogers portrays himself as the altar boy. That’s why he stinks more to me than Petro’s puppet de jour.

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    p>BTW, People “in the know” should ask themselves why Petro os sticking around and desperately trying to be top man with next Speaker. He first had Mariano and then suddenly dropped him for some reason. Now he has DeLeo.

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    p>The reason I point this out is that any rep who is not going to be speaker but has had two good runs with two speakers and considered the top guy under the current one should be looking for a nice exit. Almost bizarre the effort Petro is putting into this.

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    p>Why? Why? Why?
    What pressure is he under? From whom?

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    p>BTW2 – Sal is around for at least ten months. He will be re-elected as Speaker in Jan and then get out. IMO

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    p>Enough time to shine light on the rats lining up to succeed him. Rogers and Petro’s puppet de jour.

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